Ex-Police Chief Criticizes Netflix Series 'IC-814' Over Misrepresentation

Former DGP SP Vaid criticized Netflix's 'IC-814' series for not accurately depicting the ISI's role in the 1999 Kandahar hijack. He calls for a ban if unrectified and mentions the controversial release of terrorist Masood Azhar. The series sparked a social media row and a PIL in Delhi High Court.

Former Director General of Police (DGP) and then Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Jammu, SP Vaid, has sharply criticized Netflix's new web series 'IC-814' for failing to properly mention the involvement of the ISI in the 1999 Kandahar hijack incident. Vaid suggested that the series should be banned if this issue is not addressed.

Speaking to ANI, Vaid recounted his experiences during the hijack, particularly the release of terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar from Kot Bhalwal jail. 'Masood had a very disgusting smile on his face when I went to release him,' he stated. He also emphasized that the series inaccurately assigns Hindu names to the hijackers, urging Netflix to correct this misrepresentation.

The series has sparked significant controversy, leading to a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court. Filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, Chief of Hindu Sena, the PIL accuses the series of distorting the terrorists' actual identities by attributing to them Hindu names. Netflix has since updated its disclaimer to include the real and code names of the hijackers. Created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Shrivastava, the six-episode series stars Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, and others. It dramatizes the December 24, 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814.

(With inputs from agencies.)